Hosea Chapter 12 to 14 : Easy-to-Read Version  | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

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The Lord Is Against Israel

12 Ephraim* is wasting its time—Israel “chases the wind” all day long. The people tell more and more lies. They steal more and more. They have made agreements with Assyria, and they are carrying their olive oil to Egypt. 2{The Lord says,} “I have an argument against Israel.* Jacob* must be punished for the things he did. He must be punished for the bad things he did. 3Jacob was still in his mother’s body, and he had already started tricking his brother.* Jacob was a strong young man. And at that time, he fought with God. 4Jacob wrestled with God’s angel and won.* He cried and asked for a favor. That happened at Bethel. At that place, he spoke with us. 5Yes, YAHWEH is the God of the armies.* His name is YAHWEH (the Lord). 6So come back to your God. Be loyal to him. Do the right thing! Always trust your God! 7“Jacob* is a real businessman. He even cheats his friend! Even his scales* lie.

8Ephraim* said, ‘I am rich! I have found true riches! No person will learn about my crimes. No person will learn about my sins.’ 9“But I have been the Lord your God since {the time you were in} the land of Egypt. I will make you live in tents—like during the time of the Tent of Meeting.* 10I spoke to the prophets. I gave them many visions.* I gave the prophets many ways to teach my lessons to you. 11But the people in Gilead* have sinned. There are many terrible idols in that place. The people offer sacrifices to bulls at Gilgal. Those people have many altars.* There are rows and rows of altars—like the rows of dirt in a plowed field. 12“Jacob ran away to the land of Aram. In that place, Israel* worked for a wife. He kept sheep to get another wife. 13But the Lord used a prophet and brought Israel out of Egypt. The Lord used a prophet and kept Israel safe. 14But Ephraim caused the Lord to be very angry. Ephraim killed many people. So he will be punished for his crimes. His master (the Lord) will make him bear his shame.”

Ephraim Joseph’s younger son (Gen. 41:50–52). Ephraim’s family became a family group in Israel. Here the name is used to mean the northern kingdom of Israel. Israel Hebrew has, “Judah.” Jacob Another name for Israel. See Gen. 32:22–28. he had already started tricking his brother Or “he grabbed his brother’s heel.” This is a word play. The Hebrew word is like the name “Jacob.” Read Genesis 25:26. Jacob wrestled with God’s angel and won Read Genesis 32:22–28.  YAHWEH Is the God of the armies This is like one of the names for God. It is usually translated “Lord All-Powerful. scales Or, “balances.” A tool for weighing things.  Ephraim Joseph’s younger son (Gen. 41:50–52). Ephraim’s family became a family group in Israel. Here the name is used to mean the northern kingdom of Israel.  during the time of the Tent of Meeting The special tent where the people worshiped God. This might also mean, “like during the holiday of Succoth.” The Jewish people live in tents or temporary buildings during this holiday. vision(s) Something like a dream that God used to speak to people.  Gilead The area east of the Jordan River. The family groups of Reuben, Gad, and half of the group of Manasseh lived in that area. altar(s) A stone table used for burning sacrifices offered as gifts to God. All the people of Israel were supposed to use the one altar in Jerusalem.  Israel Another name for Jacob. See Gen. 32:22–28.


Israel Has Ruined Itself

13 “Ephraim* made himself very important in Israel. Ephraim spoke and people shook with fear. But Ephraim sinned—he began worshiping Baal.* 2Now the Israelites sin more and more. They make idols* for themselves. Workers make those fancy statues from silver. And then those people talk to their statues! They offer sacrifices to those statues. They kiss those {golden} calves. 3That is why those people will soon disappear. They will be like the fog that comes early in the morning—that fog comes and then soon disappears. The Israelites will be like chaff* that is blown from the threshing floor.* The Israelites will be like smoke that rises from a chimney and disappears. 4“I have been the Lord your God since the time you were in the land of Egypt. You did not know any other god except me. I am the One who saved you. 5I knew you in the desert—I knew you in that dry land. 6{I gave food to the Israelites.} They ate that food. They became full and satisfied. They became proud. And they forgot me! 7“That is why I will be like a lion to them. I will be like a leopard waiting by the road. 8I will attack them like a bear whose cubs were robbed from her. I will attack them. I will rip open their chests. I will be like a lion or other wild animal tearing and eating its prey.”

No One Can Save Israel from God’s Anger

9“Israel, I helped you. But you turned against me. So now I will destroy you! 10Where is your king? He can’t save you in all your cities! Where are your judges? You asked for them, saying, ‘Give me a king and leaders.’* 11I was angry, and I gave you a king. And when I became very angry, I took him away. 12“Ephraim tried to hide his guilt. He thought his sins were a secret. {But he will be punished.} 13{His punishment} will be like the pain a woman feels giving birth. He will not be a wise son. The time will come for his birth, and he will not survive.

14“I will save them from the grave! I will rescue them from death! Death, where are your diseases? Grave, where is your power? I am not looking for revenge! 15{Israel} grows among his brothers. But a powerful east wind will come—the Lord’s wind will blow from the desert. Then {Israel’s} well will become dry. His spring of water will become dry. The wind will take every valuable thing from {Israel’s} treasure. 16Samaria must be punished. Why? Because she turned against her God. The Israelites will be killed with swords. Their children will be torn to pieces. Their pregnant women will be ripped open.”

Ephraim Joseph’s younger son (Gen. 41:50–52). Ephraim’s family became a family group in Israel. Here the name is used to mean the northern kingdom of Israel. Baal The Canaanite people believed that this false god brought the rain and storms. They also thought that he made the land produce good crops.  idols Statues of false gods that people worshiped. chaff The seed coverings and stems separated from the seeds of plants like wheat or barley. Farmers saved the seeds but let the wind blow the useless chaff away. threshing floor A place where grain is beaten or walked on to remove the hulls from the grain. You asked for … leaders See 1 Sam. 8:4–9.


Return to the Lord

14 Israel, you fell and sinned against God. So come back to the Lord your God. 2Think about the things you will say. And come back to the Lord. Say to him, “Take away our sin. Accept our good {words}. We offer you the praise from our lips.* 3 “Assyria will not save us. We will not ride on {war} horses. We will never again say, ‘Our God’ to something we made with our hands. Why? Because you are the One who shows mercy to orphans.*”

The Lord Will Forgive Israel

4The Lord says, “I will forgive them for leaving me. I will love them freely, because I have stopped being angry. 5I will be like the dew to Israel. Israel will blossom like the lily.* He will grow like the cedar trees of Lebanon. 6His branches will grow, and he will be like a beautiful olive tree. He will be like the sweet smell from the cedar trees of Lebanon. 7The people of Israel will again live under my protection. They will grow like grain. They will bloom like a vine. They will be like the wine of Lebanon.”

The Lord Warns Israel About Idols

8“Ephraim,* I will have nothing more to do with idols.* I am the One who answers your prayers. I am the One who watches over you.* I am like a fir tree that is always green. Your fruit comes from me.”

Final Advice

9A wise person understands these things. A smart person should learn these things. The Lord’s ways are right. Good people will live by them. Sinners will die by them.*

praise from our lips Literally, “the fruit of our lips.” orphans children with no parents. lily A kind of flower. Ephraim Joseph’s younger son (Gen. 41:50–52). Ephraim’s family became a family group in Israel. Here the name is used to mean the northern kingdom of Israel. idols Statues of false gods that people worshiped.  I am the One who watches over you This is a word play. The Hebrew word is like the name “Assyria.” God is saying that he, not some foreign country, protects Israel. Good people … die by them Literally, “Good people will walk on them. Sinners will stumble on them.”

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